Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Illinois – The Prairie Fire scored three runs in the seventh to cap a 9-3 season-opening win over Robert Morris University-Springfield on Sunday at Lenz Field.

Knox plated the three runs when first-year Matt McCaffrey (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) was hit by a pitch, senior Austen Lake (Albers, IL, Breese Central) reached on an error, and sophomore Derek Beaupre (Pekin, IL, Pekin) grounded out – all with the bases loaded.

Sophomore Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island) homered in the fifth inning and scored a pair of runs for the Prairie Fire, who churned out six hits.  Sophomore Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) walked three times and first-year Brandon Dempsey (Washington, IL, Washington) smacked a two-out, two-run single.

The Eagles couldn't get anything going on offense through the first four innings against senior Ryder Borre (Wilmette, IL, New Trier), who started the game for Knox, and sophomore Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton).  Jordan held Robert Morris hitless and struck out four in his two innings of work.

Sophomore Alex Bell (Elgin, IL, Burlington Central) recorded the win in relief.  He came on in the bottom of the sixth with the tying run on base and retired the next two hitters to end the threat.

Eight pitchers for the Prairie Fire combined for 12 strikeouts and only two walks.

Knox never trailed after scoring two runs in the first on a two-run error.

The Prairie Fire play Salem State University next on March 17 at 9:00 a.m. (ET), the first of eight games in Fort Myers, Florida as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.